Star Wars Land Vs Tomorrowland

While Disneyland hasn’t announced an official date for the opening of Star Wars Land, it also hasn’t addressed the problem of the Star Wars Land that it already has. The previously named, and now completely erroneously named, Tomorrowland is awash in Star Wars lore, attractions and merchandise. While some of those things will be easily changed (characters, shows and merchandise are simple to move and replace), others are going to be a major pain.

Tomorrowland is still one of the most popular places in the park. It has big rides like Star Tours and Space Mountain, and it has family friendly rides like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Autopia. It also has the Jedi Academy on the Tomorrowland Terrace and props from Star Wars movies and character meet and greets at the Star Wars Launch Bay. Lines for many of these attractions can be overwhelming, but people wait in them.

So what will be staying and what will be going – that’s hard to decide, and depends on what the management at Disneyland and the Disney company decide about theming. They have already given up on the theming of Tomorrowland, and much like audiences saw in Meet the Robinsons, they have turned it into Todayland with the Marvel and Pixar connections. They have also placed it in the past with the copious references to Star Wars. Maybe they will rename Tomorrowland altogether… but that’s another discussion.

Things that aren’t Star Wars related:As long as you forget that Zurg is Buzz Lightyear’s father, Astro Blasters is not Star Wars related and doesn’t need to be changed on that basis. (It is set in today’s world, but that’s another article you can read, here.)

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – present day.

Autopia – present day.

Disneyland Railroad gets a pass because it is used for transportation around the park.

Astro Orbitor – the differently themed Dumbo ride, could be considered future.

Disneyland Monorail – could be futuristic.

Things that are easy to change:

Star Wars Launch Bay – formerly it housed the Caroussel of Progress, America Sings, Marvel Meet and Greets and some other projects that usually at least tried to maintain the tomorrow part of Tomorrowland. Disney has shown that it is fine letting this space sit fallow. It has also shown that this space is easily adapted as an exhibition center. Inside the Launch Bay are props from Star Wars, a store and meet and greet opportunities – all are easily moved.

Hyperspace Mountain – Space Mountain’s overlay is easy enough to change. Disneyland changes it to Ghost Galaxy for the Halloween season. Maybe they’ll come up with themes for each season. Christmas could be Santa and sleigh scenario where the ships become sleighs and it ends up on a housetop… Anyway, it’s a popular overlay, but it puts Space Mountain a long time ago, not in the future.

Star Wars: Path of the Jedi – this snooze fest at least has the use of catching people up on the story line as it has played out in the movies. Easy enough to change, the theater has housed Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Captain EO, both of which would be an upgrade over the Star Wars theming.

Behold Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple – this is a stage show. Easily moved. The space is easily changed for showcasing bands and providing a dinner and a show at the outdoor restaurant in Tomorrowland.

The Hard Part:Star Tours: The Adventure Continues – Yes, BB-8 may make an appearance during your flight. At the entrance to Tomorrowland, Disney could close this attraction just after Star Wars Land opens to make way for something new. Presumably, there would be a replacement Star Tours ready to fly guests around the galaxy in the land where all Star Wars stuff should go.

This would be the most sensible plan of action, but something happens when companies head to the bank, they decide to do things that go against the long term interests of the company and look at the short term. Disneyland in the early 2000s and Disneyland Paris in 2015 engaged in something known as deferred maintenance. Saving money on labor and repair supplies at the expense of park atmosphere.

Leaving Star Tours where it is may break with theming, but it would be the least expensive thing to do. It would be cool if it could be modified to take guests to Star Wars Land, especially if it was the only way to get there. Talk about keeping the illusion alive. Of course, that means people would have to take the same ride back, and there are probably a ton of other things wrong with the idea.

Star Wars currently makes up over half of Tomorrowland (not counting the Disneyland Train), which is probably the most popular land in the park. What will be there when the new Star Wars Land opens is anyone’s guess. Leave yours below.